Line-guide.



PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. W. R. MGGOWEN.

LINE GUIDE APPLICATION FILED JUNE15, 1905.

WGflfleflw- UNITED srarns arena orricn \VILLIAM R. MGGOWVEN, OF KNOXVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO AUGUSTUS I. KELLEY, OF BUSHNELL. ILLINOIS.

LINE-GUIDE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed June 15, 1905. Serial No. 265,307.

To all whom it may concern: I B e it known that I,W1LL1AM R. McGowEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Line-Guides; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to a lineguide, and has particular reference to the guide or guides for the lines of a harness, and the same is adapted to be attached or secured to the back-band thereof.

The novelty in the present construction resides in the arrangement of the device wherein the lines will be carried on edge vertically, forming a practical guide for the lines from a horses head to the driver, and the construction of the guide is such that it is impossible for the buckle of the lines to be drawn through the guide if the horse should suddenly plunge forward.

' The invention consists particularly of a I line-guide wherein the line may be readily inserted or removed without the necessity of threading a line through the guide and which will effectually hold the line or lines against accidental displacement. The same is made in one piece having a threaded shank or stem which is formed with a flange, and extending up from the said flange is a pair of parallel fingers, which is the appearance of the same when looking at the guide from the front or the rear, the said fingers being separated a short distance to form an elongated vertical slot for the carrying of the line, the said fingers extending upwardly from the flange and inclined slightly diagonally in opposite directions with their ends inturned and lying par allel but separated a short distance to adapt the placing of the line into the slot of the said guide.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the nu merals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved line-guide. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section in plan taken on the line y y of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the guide is shown having a threaded shank or stem 1, by means of which the said guide may be fastened or secured to the back-band of a harness. At the head of this threaded stem the said guide 1s formed with a flange 2, which forms the base for the main body of the guide, and integral with and extending upwardly from the said flange is a short stud or body portion 3, from Which extend a pair of fingers 4, the same being separated a suitable distance from each other to provide an elongated vertical slot 5, the lower end wall of which is the base portion 3, and the upper end thereof is formed from two oppositely-inturned and laterallycarried extensions 6 of the fingers5, which are spaced a short distance from each other to form an open way or slot 7, disposed substantially at right angles to the slot 5. The fingers 4 as they leave the base portion 3 extend upwardly and diagonally therefrom and in diagonal directions opposite to each other, and by so doing make provision for the open slotted way 7 between the oppositely-carried lateral extensions 6 of the said fingers. Thus the appearance of the said guide when looking at the same from the front or the rear is that the fingers 5 are parallel with each other,

and when looking at the same from the side,

as in Fig. 3, the said fingers are offset, as

shown, made possible by the diagonal direcigion in which the fingers are carried from the ase.

I am aware of several different forms of reinholders, terrets, and line-guides which have been patented; but in none of these do I find the peculiar arrangement for the insertion of any portion of a line into the guide nor of one where the line is carried upon edge vertically and in an elongated slot where the line is absolutely prevented from becoming twisted or buckling and where it is impossible for the buckle of the lines to be drawn through the said guide and where the said guide is carried in an upright position, mak ing it possible to loop the line around the same, if it is desired.

In the operation of placing a line into the slot 5 of the guide the line will be turned at right angles to the direction in which the same will be carried in the slot 5 and slipped down through the open way 7 between the extension 6 of the fingers 4 and then turned at right angles in the slot 5, in which position ICC the same cannot be accidentally removed, by reason of the extensions 6, which overlie the top of the said line. In this position, as before suggested, the line is upon edge vertically, and to remove the same from'the said guide the movements just before referred to are reversed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a lineguide comprising a base portion from which extend vertical fingers separated from each other to form an elongated vertical slot, the said fingers bearing upwardly and diagonally in opposite directions and having their upper ends inturned and carried parallel with each other between which is an open way communicating with the slot aforesaid.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a lineguide comprising a base portion having a flange and pair of vertically-extended fingers integral with the said base and separated from each other to form an elongated slot, the said fingers bearing upwardly and diagonally in opa depending threaded stem, of a posite directions and having their upper ends inturned and carried parallel with each other between which is an open way communicating with the slot aforesaid.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a lineguide comprising a base portion having an annular flange and a depending threaded stem, of a pair of vertically-extended fingers integral with the said base and separated from each other to form an elongated slot between the same, the upper wall of the said slot consisting of inturned and oppositely-carried extensions of the said fingers which lie parallel and apart from each other to form an open way communicating with the slot aforesaid, the said fingers extending upwardly from the said base and in diagonal lines opposite to each other, substantially for the purposes specifiedv In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. MoGOWEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. WV. LA PORTE, ROBERT N. MCCORMICK. 

